Talladega, Alabama is the place to be this weekend. On Sunday, NASCAR drivers will take over town to compete within the 2023 Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. The race will start at 3 p.m. ET and can air on Fox in addition to the Fox Sports activities app.
Denny Hamlin has a shot at his first win of the NASCAR Cup Collection season after taking pole place on Saturday morning. He has had success on the observe, successful there in 2014 and 2020 and completed within the high 5 on the Yellawood 500 in October 2022. It’s the first time Hamlin has taken pole at Talladega in his 18 years. careers.
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“I used to be effectively conscious that I had by no means gotten a speedway pole,” Hamlin stated after taking the pole, in accordance with NASCAR.com. “I do not know if there is a (profit), actually,” Hamlin continued. “Had I certified 18th I might have been simply as optimistic. Though, I’ll say that qualifying on pole means my automobile may be very succesful and shall be fast within the lead. Subsequent Gen period whereas main on the superspeedways so definitely that offers me confidence that we should always have the ability to lead the peloton rapidly which can make it tougher for them to move us.”
Hamlin is co-owner of 23XI Racing, a group that features Bubbal Wallace who received at Talladega in 2021. After ending within the high 10 at Martinsville, Wallace is assured he can take his first win of the 2023 season on Sunday. “Speedway stuff, we have been in a position to construct a good sized resume for speedways and different tracks, , we’re nonetheless constructing on that,” Wallace stated, in accordance with NASCAR.com. “Mile and a half, we felt like we did fairly good final yr. Quick tracks and street programs that we wanted lots of work on. However, , new observe, new weekend. -end, it is a new alternative, is not it?So that you exit and attempt to carry out as finest you’ll be able to.
Hamlin and Wallace will face off on the observe, however Hamlin additionally needs his driver to carry out effectively. “Look, as a automobile proprietor, I would say, ‘Dude, you are about to go one lap behind in a observe race, you higher struggle every part you’ll be able to,'” Hamlin stated. . “Now, as a driver, I am like, ‘Get out of my means. I am the chief. Like, I am attempting to achieve floor right here.’ So it is a case the place, whereas I could also be unsettled within the second, general I am like, ‘Properly, that is what I might count on him to do.’ That is how he is separated.”